Adjuster for clothes hangers



April 1951 K. s. DOUGLAS 2,548,778

ADJUSTER FOR CLOTHES HANGERS Filed Aug. 18, 1947 INVENTOR JfiiDougZas BY ML vtuuv-Zi/ ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 10, 1951 ADJUSTER FOR CLOTHES HANGERS Karle s. Douglas, can, Calif.

Application August 18, 1947, Serial No. 769,270

UNlTED s'rrrrrs PA NT oFHc-c This invention is directed to, and it is an object to provide, an adjusting device for conven: tional wooden clothes hangers, the device being used in pairs on the top bar of a hanger to adjust the effective length thereof to the shoulder width of the garment with which the hanger is used. 1

Another object of this invention is to provide an adjuster for clothes hangers, which comprises, for use with the top bar of each hanger, a pair of initially separate extension members designed to be adjustably and releasably secured to opposite ends of the top bar and which may project therefrom if necessary.

An additional object of the invention is to provide each extension member with an enlarged outer end portion for engagement with the shoulders of the garment whereby to more effectively support and maintain the proper shape of the same.

A further object is to provide an adjuster for clothes hangers, wherein each extension member is formed from a single length of spring wire.

It is also an object to provide an adjuster for clothes hangers which is adapted for use with clothes hangers which may, or may not, include 7 a trouser bar below the top bar.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simple, practical, and convenient adjuster for clothes hangers, and yet one which will be exceedingly effective for the purpose for which it,

is designed.

These objects are accomplished by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claim.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a clothes hanger fitted with the extension members at its ends.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of one of the extension members, detached.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged side elevation showing one of the extension members as mounted on a clothes hanger.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawings, the inven-' tion is adapted for use in connection with a conventional clothes hanger I which includes a wooden top bar 2, and a central hook 3.

The present invention comprises a pair of extension members, as indicated generally at 4, adapted to be adjustably and detachably mounted in connection with a corresponding end of the wooden top bar 2.

As the extension members 4 are of identical 1 Claim. (Cl. 22392) construction, a description of one will suffice fo both. V i

Each extension member 4 is formed from a single length of spring metal wire or small-diameter rod shaped to provide a pair of elongated, transversely spaced legs 5. These legs 5 continue, at their forward ends, in intersecting relation, as at 6, and thence the device includes an enlarged loop I; said loop having a slight outward and downward slope when the legs 5 are generally horizontal.

At its free end one of the legs 5 is formed with a lateral hook 8 which projects towards, and

frictionally engages over, the other leg 5, whereby to maintain said legs under tension. The released position of the leg which the hook 8 engages is shown in dotted lines, and it is thus evident'that such leg must be tensioned to engage the hook 8.

The above described extension member 4 is fixed to a corresponding end of the wooden top bar by projecting such end between the legs 5 from above, and toward the loop 1; such extension member being disposed on said top bar with the desired projection of the loop 1.

A sharp downwardly projecting spur 9 is formed on the extension member at the intersection 6, and when said member is in the desired position of adjustment, the member is pressed down to cause such spur to bite into the upper edge of the top bar in the manner shown in Fig. 3. This prevents accidental displacement of the extension member 4 along the top bar 2. However, adjustment ofthe extension member 4 along the top is easily accomplished by lifting the loop I, sliding the extension member along the bar 2, and then resetting the spur 9.

For clothes hangers which include a trouser bar below the top bar, the extension member 4 is mounted by first disengaging the hook 8, straddling'the legs 5 over the top bar, and then reengaging the hook 8 by projecting it between the top bar and trouser bar. On this type of hanger adjustment of the extension 4 along the top bar is accomplished in the same manner as above described.

With extension members 4 mounted on each end of the top bar 2 of a clothes hanger, such clothes hanger can be adjusted to perfectly match, in length, the width of the shoulders of a garment to be supported; the garment thus being supported more effectively than otherwise, and further the enlarged loops 1 of the extension members 4 maintain the shoulder portions of the garment in better shape than can be done with the narrow hanger alone.

It should also be noted that when a garment is supported on a hanger which includes the extension members 4, the weight of the garment urges the spurs 9 downwardly to further assure against accidental displacement of said members.

When each extension member 6 is mounted on the top bar 2, the legs 5 are substantially horizontal, and the enlarged loop I then is disposed at an incline generally matching the slope of the corresponding portion of the hanger.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that there has been produced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention, as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device,

still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure bar and greatly elongated with respect to the height of the bar whereby said loop when placed on the bar may extend diagonally of said bar and be engaged at its ends with the top and bottom faces of the bar at longitudinally spaced points thereon in supported non-tipping relation, and a relatively wide oval loop to engage a coatshoulder extending lengthwise of the attachment from the top engaging end of the first loop; the loops lengthwise of the attachment being disposed at an angle to each other such that said last named loop, when the first loop is supported on the bar, extends in substantially parallel alinement with the top of the hanger bar.

KARLE S. DOUGLAS.

REFERENCES (HTED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 320,230 Donaldson June 16, 1885 765,331 Batts July 19, 1904 1,501,468 Ranch July 15, 1924 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 8,148 Great Britain of 1895 598,802 France Oct. 5, 1925 

